Internships

The Youth Opportunity Center’s (YOC) APA-accredited Pre-doctoral Internship provides interns with opportunities to conduct individual, group and family therapy, as well as comprehensive psychological testing. Numerous training opportunities are provided by psychology faculty (on-campus) and other psychologists and professionals from the community. Interns are matched to cottage populations in order to receive specialized training in clinical work with specific adolescent populations. Interns are exposed to a wide variety of childhood disorders, some in their most severe forms. Interns are encouraged to develop their abilities to provide individual, family and group therapy, to make behavior plans to work with the residents and staff, and to learn to work within a cohesive multi-disciplinary team. Interns also have the opportunity to understand and work with Special Education Committees, and to work with probation officers and Department of Child Services (DCS) caseworkers. Interns develop crisis intervention skills, attend and testify in court, provide parent training, and develop their psychological assessment and report writing skills.

The children and families served by the YOC are typically "multicrisis families". These families often struggle with substance abuse, poverty, disabilities, homelessness, generational physical and sexual abuse, trauma, violence, and mental illness. Working with this challenging and diverse population requires the intern to be open to working systematically on large family issues and working collegially with other professionals in an organized manner. Linking families to other agencies and resources, providing home-based therapy when needed, and maintaining a solution-focused approach is necessary to wrap support around the youth and plan for a stable transition to the home. This internship program challenges the intern to find solutions to complex problems with the support of the court system, and to meet the needs of the youth and the entire family.

The Youth Opportunity Center is a state-of-the-art, private, non-profit organization that specializes in a full continuum of residential treatment for children, adolescents, and their families. The YOC offers mental and behavioral health services for all levels of care, including full psychological assessment services. The campus-style setting features 9 residential cottages, central services facilities, a 44-bed co-ed detention center, a 28-bed secure unit for emotionally disturbed and violent children, an on-grounds school, and a day treatment program. Also on grounds is the Delaware County Juvenile Court, Delaware County Probation Department, and Department of Child Services offices. The facility is located on 57 wooded acres and has been specifically designed to provide optimum residential treatment options for a wide range of mental health needs.

The YOC accepts interns who exhibit professionalism, enthusiasm and a willingness to develop and grow within an organizational culture. Flexible, mature, hardworking interns are encouraged to apply. Minority, culturally diverse, and bilingual applicants are also encouraged to apply.

The Youth Opportunity Center participates in the APPIC match process. Applications can be obtained through the APPIC website:

http://www.appic.org/

Applications (AAPI) must be received by the YOC by November 30, and should be submitted with Curriculum Vita, official doctoral transcripts, and three letters of recommendation. For more information please contact the Director of Internships, Dr. Dawn Lotter-Griffin, or the Psychological Services Secretary, Emily Robertson at (765) 289-5437.

Download YOC Internship Guide

American Psychological Association
Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
750 First Street, NE • Washington, DC • 20002-4242
Phone: 202-336-5979 • TDD/TTY: 202-336-6123
Fax: 202-336-5978